Electric iron



July 20, 1943;

J. J. GOUGH ELECTRIC IRON .Original Filed Oct. 5l, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORNEYE.

July 20, 1943. J. J. GOUGH ELEcTRIo IRON original Filed oct. s1, 1958 2sheets-sheet 2 INVETOR. @WU

ATTORNEYA, n

Patented July 20, 1943 f .STAT

Es g PATENT OFFICE ,rinno'rmc IRON f James J. Gough, Chicago, 1u.,assigner to 4ohicago Electric Manufacturing Company, Chi-y cago, Il1.,'acorporation of 'Illinois Original 'application october 31,1938, serialNo. 237,910. Divided and this application January 4, 1940, Serial No.312,319

4.olaims. (Ol. ss-ss) invention relatestoan electric iron andlparticularlyl to an electric4 iron of the folc ling type. y

The present application is a division of the copending application ofJames J. Gough, Seria1 N0.v 237,910, `led October 3l, 1938', no'w PatentNumber`2,215,959. s

. It is an-Object of thisinvention to provide al sturdy thoughinexpensive electric Yiron which may readily be folded'and when foldedoccupy a minimum of space.

Another Object ofthe invention is to provide 'an electric iron of whichthehandle may be moved longitudinally of vthe'iron into a collapsedpositionin closetting superposed relationto the base of the iron and toprovide means for effectively securing or locking the handle in its errtended position andv in the collapsed position whereby to preventinadverent. collapsing ofthe handle from its extended position and toprotect the Yhandle against vibration and fracturing when in collapsedposition and against overheating byv heat retained in the base. I

Applicants invention furtherv 'contemplates the provision of Aarelatively very thin iron having simple-but effective means forpreventing the heating of the relatively thin cover plate by the heatingelement interposed between this cover s plate land the sole plate.

A further Object ofthe invention is to'provid in` such an iron abaSesuppOrting rest member which although secured to the base in heatconducting'relation, is kept relatively cool.

Other and further objects and advantages ofi' the' invention will 'be'apparentfrom the io llow'` ing description when taken' in connectionwith the yaccor'npanying drawings, wherein:

` Figl represents a' perspectiveview of an electric iron embodyingftheinvention, thehandle bein'g shown in extendedposition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the handle in collapsedposition.

Fig.'3. is an enlarged vertical section taken sub-A stantiallyl alongthe line 3 3 of Figfl.

the handle, illustrating the manner in which the handle may be unlockedfor movement to the co1-l lapsed position of Fig. 2. 'f l y Fig. 5 isavertical section taken along the line Fig. 6'is a vertical sectiontakenv along the line 1 6-6 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 7 is a View in exploded perspective of the elements constitutingthe base of the iron.

Fig. '4 is a fragmentary view in section through 45 Fig. 8 is ayfragmentary vertical section taken.

substantiallyl along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a. yview inexploded perspective of the handle latching means.Y

Fig..-10 is aperspective View taching element.

Fig. 1,1 is a view in elevationshowing the iron supported in verticalrest position.

Various structures have been devisedr for collapsibly supporting thehandle of Yan electric iron of a handle atbut these have not beenentirely satisfactory' bei to beallowe'd for cooling of the shell beforethe handle could be collapsed.

' An electric iron constructed in accordance with applicantsl inventionavoids these defects and insufflciencies of the prior devices andprovides an electric iron of the folding' type which, when the handle-isin collapsed position, occupies a mini#- mum amount of space; the dangerof vibration and fracturingof the handle is reduced to aminimum andmeansare provided for maintaining the shell Or cover plate at asufciently low teni-V perature .so that the handle maybe moved tocollapsed position immediately after use.

As shownin the drawings, an electric iron construction in accordancewith applicants invention embodies a sole plate 2.having a cut outportion forming a channel 4 (Fig. 7) for receiving the heating element Ewhich may be of any con- `venient conventional. structure, butpreferably comprises the usual resistance coil wound on an insulatingplate @which is interposed between upper and lower insulating plates I0and I2. The heating .clement kli is clamped in position in the channel 4bya relatively thin metal plate I4 also received in the channel 4, theplate I4 being of a shape similar tol the sole plate 2` and mountedwithin the upstanding rim or flange I 6 of the latter, The plate I4 issecured to the sole plate by cap screws I8 I(Figs. 3 and 6) passingthrough openings 20 (Fig. 7) in the plate I4 and received in threadedopeningsZZ in the sole plate.

At a rear cornerA o f the plate I4 a portion 24 is cut'to form a slotfor receiving the usual plug ceived in threaded openings 36 of the soleplateir The cover plate 36 is preferably of a shape similar to that ofthe sole plate 2 but is longerthan the sole plate so as to projectrearwardly beyond the heel of the sole plate and is'provided with adepending rim or flange 38 adaptedto engage the rim or flange I6 of thesole plate. In order to permit circulation'of air between the positionwith the cover plate or shell without the danger of marring the handleor burning the fingers of the user.

The handle means 62 comprises the usual handle 64 of heat insulatingmaterial and front and rear handle supporting members 66 and 68. Thefront supporting member 66 preferably comprises a wire or rod ofresilient material bent to provide .spaced legs 10, integrallyconnecting spaced feet 12, with an upper, horizontally extendinghandlerengaging portion 14, the spaced feet 12' being integrally joinedby a lower, horizontally extending pivotV portion 16. As shown in Fig.6, the feet cover plate or shell and the'heated clamping and sole platesI4 and 2, respectively, the depending rim or flange 38 is provided witha plurality of spaced notches, grooves or openings 4 0, andit will beevidentV that, by reason of a circulation of air through theopeningsvjoverheating of the cover plate or shell will'b'e prevented.

A terminal housing 472; preferably of sheet metal, is received withinanopening 44'in the cover plate or shell 36 and is secured; with the'strap 23, to the clamping plate I4 as by aj cap screw 46 passing throughapeituredlugs 48'and 4,9of theterminal-housing and strap 28,respect'ively,'a ndV received within a threaded opening 50y inlineclamping plate. lTfhe horizontal, outwardly'projecting lugs 5I and E2formedon the housing 42' and the .strap 28 are yclamped be tweenthecover plate or shell 370 and the'y clamping plate I4as shown in Fig.5.

The depending rim Vor ilange 36 ofthe cover plate orshell'30is'partially cut away atthe rear portion thereofjto permit avrestfrriember 54l to be interposed between the rear portion of thecover` plate and the clamping plate I4.' 'Ihe'restmember.54 rests uponthe rim I6* of the sole plate and is providedwith an upwardly pressed oroilset portion liliV forming an opstanding shoulder or;

ridge 56 to engage the ange 38 and lock`- the rest member to the shellto hold the rest memberl This restmemher extendsfrearwardly beyond therear edge ofthe` against.' relative movement.

cover plate or shell and is provided at itsrear edge with spacedprojecting lugs 5,9jwhih are preferably bent upwardly so asproperly toen,.-

gage the flat supporting surface when the iron is in vertical position,as shown in Fig. 11.

Aforward edge of the `rest member is notched as at 58 to snuglyreceivethe rear. edge of 'the terminal housing 42 to offer furtherVV supportfor the housing when the iron is in vertical position and in turn toutilize this housingV in supportng theiron in vertical position. Therest member isA also provided at its forward edges with a struckup'boss59T engaging the cover plate to support the latter and aperture-d toreceive the rear screw 3.2' by which the cover plate is secured to thesole plate so as to provide an additional spaced point of supportingengagement between then-rest,

memberand the soleplate. Openings 60 in the portion of the rest memberlyingk beneath the rearwardly projecting heel portion of the cover plateor shell and thc rear edge ofthe sole plate further facilitate thecirculation of airv between the' coverV platemor shell and the clampingand sole plates and withthe airlcirculating openings 40'in the rimof.the cover plate insurethe maintenance ofhthe cover plate or Vsliell atasufficiently low temperature for satisfactory use andto permit foldingof the handle into Close juxtav12A-converge from the pivot portion 16 soas snugly to receive the handle when in collapsed positionandjresiliently latch the handle in that posiing means comprises a plate88 (Fig. 9)r secured' to the handle in the end groove 90 (Fig. 3) asby ascrew 92. A latching clip 94 (Fig. 9) is,V pivotally mounted on aresilientV plate or strip 96, secured to the handle by the screw 92andoverlying the plate 88 (Figs. 3 and 4). The clip 94' passes vthrougha slot98 (Fig. 7) 'in the spring plate 96by the edges of which it ispivotally associated with said plate, and lbetween, the plate..

96`and the plate 88 the clipv is provided'with laterally extending lugs|00 substantially rectanguiarV in cross section, as shown in Figs. 3and/4 sothat the clip will be retained inits latching position by thespring plate 96, as shown in Fig. 3, and also will be retainedin itsnon-latching or released position, as shown in Fig. 4.

The clip 94, exteriorly of the spring strip .96, is shaped to provide a.groove |02 (Figs. 4 and 7) andaI nger or operating portion |04, thegroove- |02 receiving the handle engaging portion v141 of the handlesupporting member 66. 'Ihelower edge portion |06 of, the spring strip-V96 extendsY over the groove4 |02 when the clip 94is in latching.

position and bearsagainst the portionv 14of. the member Sito retain itin the groove |02 (Fig. 3).

It will be evident that byengaging the .-nger- |04.`

of the latch clip 94 the same will be raised from the position shown vinFig. 3 tothe position shownin Fig. 4, thereby; to releasethe handlesupportingmembeLBi from kthe handle.

The rear handle vs l-lpllorting member68 .preferably comprisesa wire.orlrod bent. to provide spaced feet |08 (Figs. 1 `and2 integrally con-lnected at their lower ends b'y va .horizontally eictending pivot portionI0 and integrally connected to a horizontally extending attachingporlaterally extending lugs 122 adapted to engage the legs |08 of thesupporting member 68 at points spaced sufficiently from the center ofthe portion I l2 when the handle is in extended position so as to limitthe movement of the handle relative to the supporting member 68 whenbrought to the position shown in Fig. 3.

It will be evident that upon movement of the latching clip 94 from thelocking position of Fig. 3 to the releasing position of Fig. 4, theforward handle supporting member 66 may be pivoted in a counterclockwisedirection from the full line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted lineposition of said figure, or the full line position of Figs. 2 and 6, inwhich position the horizontally extending portion l2 of this member 65rests upon the upper surface of the cover plate or shell 3U andthereupon the handle 64 may be moved in a forward directionlongitudinally of the iron to a collapsed position in close ttingrelation to the base of the iron, as shown by the full lines of Figs. 2and 6 and the dotted lines of Fig. 3.

In moving to this position the handle 64 will be forced between thespaced resilient legs lll and feet l2 of the front supporting member 65,as shown in Fig. 6, and resiliently held by this member againstvibration when in collapsed position and resiliently latched in thiscollapsed position. The position which the handle occupies in relationto the base when collapsed and the latching i of the handle in thisposition protect thehandle against the dangers of fracturing duringtransportation or storage. v

It should be noted that the feet l2 and |08 of the front and rear handlesupporting members 6B and 68, respectively, extend in oppositedirections along the cover plate when the handle is in extended,operating position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and therefore absolutelyprevent movement of the handle relative tothe base so long as the frontVsupporting member is latched to the handle.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that applicant hasprovided a sturdy and inexpensive, relatively very thin, collapsibleiron wherein means are provided for preventing overheating of the coverplate; wherein the handle is movable longitudinally of the iron into acollapsed position in close tting superposed relation to the base; andwherein means are provided for eiectively locking the handle in itsextended position. v

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, constructionandarrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacricing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the'purposeof illustrating the invention.

I claim:

1. In an electric iron, a base comprising a thin sole plate, a heatingelement uponsaid base, a thin, sheet metal clamping plate secured tosaid sole plate and overlying said heating element to clamp the latterto the sole plate, a thin, flat surfaced cover plate overlying saidclamping plate and having a depending peripheral rim engaging the rim ofthe sole plate to space the top of the cover plate vertically from theclamping plate,

'and a flat, sheet metal rest member clamped between and secured to saidcover plate and said sole plate and having integral laterally spacedfeet extending upwardly at the rear end thereof to support the iron invertical position.

2. In an electrically heated iron, an electrically heated basecomprising a thin sole plate, a heating element on said plate, a sheetmetal clamping plate secured to said sole plate and overlying saidheating element to clamp the latter to the sole plate and a sheet metal,flat surfaced cover plate overlying said clamping plate and having adepending peripheral rim engaging the rim of the sole plate, and a sheetmetal rest member interposed between a portion of said cover plate andsaid sole plate, said sheet metal rest member projecting beyond saidsole plate and having spaced feet adapted to support the iron invertical position, said rest member also having an upwardly offsetportion beneath said cover plate, said offset portionr having a sidewall shaped similarly to the depending rim of the cover plate andengaging the depending rim of said cover plate to hold said rest memberin proper position relative to said cover plate.

3. In an iron, a base comprising a thin sole plate, a heating element onsaid sole plate, a flat surfaced cover plate secured to the sole platein overlying relation to the heating element and having a dependingperipheral rim engaging the sole plate and spacing the cover plate fromthe Vheating element, and a rest member extending longitudinally partway of the cover plate and interposed between a portion of the coverplate and the sole plate, said rest member projecting beyond said soleplate and cover plate to support the iron in vertical position, said rimand rest member having openings permitting a circulation of air betweenthe cover-plate and the heating element and between the rest member andthe cover plate.

4. In an electrically heated iron, an electrically heated basecomprising a thin sole plate, a heating element on said plate, a sheetmetal clamping plate secured to said sole plate and overlyingv saidheating element to clamp the latter to the sole plate and a sheet metal,flat surfaced cover plate overlying said clamping plate and having adepending peripheral rim engaging the rim of the sole plate,fand asheetv metal rest member interposed between a portion of said coverplate and said sole plate, said sheet metal rest member projectingbeyond said sole plate and having spaced feet adapted to support theiron in vertical position, said rest member also having an upwardlyoffset portion beneath said coverplate, the dening side wall of saidupwardly offset portion engaging the depending rim of said cover plateto hold said rest member in proper position relative to said coverplate, said cover plate and said rest member having openings therein forpermitting a circulation of air between the rest member, theA coverplate and the heating element.

JAMES J. GOUGI-I.

